In a close race with Kamala Harris, Donald Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election by the Associated Press on November 6, 2024. He won with a final tally of 295-226 electoral votes.
For Donald Trump to win the election, he had to secure several key battleground states. These states—also known as swing states—included Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
According to the Associated Press, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin were all declared red states, meaning their electoral votes went to Trump. At the time, the AP had not yet declared Nevada and Arizona for Trump, but both were highlighted in red, indicating that Trump was leading in the polls there. Even if the Democrats were to make a comeback in those states, it would not change the outcome of the election. Trump had already surpassed the 270 electoral vote threshold, securing his victory.
The last time a candidate won all the battleground states was in the 1996 election, when Bill Clinton, a Democrat, won all of the major swing states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Winning all the swing states is a huge advantage, as they offer many electoral votes and often swing either way.
So, what comes next for Donald Trump?
We have now entered a period called the Transition. The first major event in the transition is Inauguration Day. President Trump will be invited to the ceremony, and Congress will meet to officially certify the election results. During this time, Trump will begin selecting key advisers and team members, while also planning his policies and the first 100-day plan.
The incoming administration will be briefed on national security, ongoing military operations, and other critical matters. Trump will also start selecting his cabinet and making key appointments.
The outgoing administration is expected to provide updates and briefings to the incoming team before Trump is inaugurated. After the inauguration, he will officially begin implementing his policies and moving forward with his plans for the country.
